In-vehicle control device

ABSTRACT

An in-vehicle control device includes a processor configured to: control a device of a first type, which has a function of switching an operation mode between a normal mode and a mode in which power consumption is limited compared to the normal mode in accordance with an instruction via communication and a device of a second type, which does not have the function; specify a limited device that is a device of which power consumption is to be limited, based on information acquired from outside; transmit to the limited device via a communication line an instruction to shift the operation mode to the mode in which power consumption is limited compared to the normal mode, when the limited device is the device of the first type; and stop power supply to the limited device when the limited device is the device of the second type.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-157919 filed onAug. 30, 2019 including the specification, drawings and abstract isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to an in-vehicle control device.

2. Description of Related Art

A vehicle is equipped with a plurality of devices such as in-vehicledevices referred to as electronic control units (ECUs) and electroniccomponents. Since these devices are installed in large numbers, thedevices are classified into several groups, and power supply therefor iscontrolled on a group basis using relays or the like.

In recent years, in order to improve services used in a vehicle, it isrequired to provide advanced functions, even in a parked vehicle, forexample, such that many devices cooperate while performing wirelesscommunication with a server outside the vehicle. Accordingly, powerconsumption of each device tends to increase. Thus, it is preferable torestrict operation of unnecessary functions as much as possible torestrict power consumption. However, there is a limit for restriction ofthe operation of unnecessary functions as long as power supply iscontrolled on a group basis.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-106724 (JP2019-106724 A) describes a device that, when receiving a signalinstructing switching of its operation mode, switches the operation modein accordance with the signal independently of operation modes of theother devices connected to a bus to which that device is connected. Theoperation mode is switched between a normal mode (wake-up state) inwhich functions can be exhibited without any particular limitation and apower-saving mode (sleep state) in which the functions are restrictedcompared to the normal mode to limit power consumption. By employingsuch devices, even when the number of the devices is large, thefunctions of the devices can be restricted device-by-device, rather thanon a group basis.

SUMMARY

A device having a function of switching an operation mode viacommunication has higher cost of parts etc., compared to a device havingno such function, for supporting communication standards and operationmode switching control. In addition, since the device having thefunction consumes a certain amount of standby power even in apower-saving mode, an effect of limiting power consumption is limitedwhen viewed over a relatively long time. Thus, even if all devicesinstalled in the vehicle are replaced with devices having the functionof switching the operation mode via communication, it is not necessarilyoptimal in terms of cost and limitation of power consumption.

The disclosure provides a control device that allows optimization ofbalance between cost and effects of limiting power consumption.

An aspect of the disclosure relates to an in-vehicle control device. Thein-vehicle control device includes a processor. The processor isconfigured to control a device of a first type, which has a function ofswitching an operation mode between a normal mode and a mode in whichpower consumption is limited compared to the normal mode in accordancewith an instruction via communication and a device of a second type,which does not have the function. The processor is configured to specifya limited device that is a device of which power consumption is to belimited, based on information acquired from outside. The processor isconfigured to transmit to the limited device via a communication line aninstruction to shift the operation mode to the mode in which powerconsumption is limited compared to a normal mode when the limited deviceis the device of the first type. The processor is configured to stoppower supply to the limited device when the limited device is the deviceof the second type.

In the in-vehicle control device of the above aspect, the informationmay be configured to be generated based on information including usageof a service while a vehicle is parked.

In the in-vehicle control device of the above aspect, the processor maybe configured to specify, when there is a device of which powerconsumption is being limited, a non-limited device that is a device ofwhich limitation of power consumption is to be removed based on theinformation. The processor may be configured to transmit to thenon-limited device via the communication line an instruction to shiftthe operation mode to the normal mode when the non-limited device is thedevice of the first type. The processor may be configured to supplypower to the non-limited device when the non-limited device is thedevice of the second type.

According to the above aspect, the control device can realize limitationof power consumption corresponding to each of the two types of thedevices. Accordingly, it is possible to combine the devices of the twotypes to achieve a design that optimizes a balance between cost andeffects of limiting power consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance ofexemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a control device according to anembodiment of the disclosure and a periphery thereof; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the control device accordingto the embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A control device according to an embodiment of the disclosure causes afirst device of a first type, which has a function of switching anoperation mode via communication, to use the function to shift theoperation mode to a power-saving mode, thereby limiting powerconsumption. The control device stops power supply for a second deviceof a second type, which does not have the function of switching anoperation mode via communication, thereby limiting power consumption.Thus, the control device can realize limitation of power consumptioncorresponding to each of the two types of the devices. Accordingly,using the control device, it is possible to combine the devices of thetwo types to achieve a design that optimizes a balance between reductionin cost and limitation of power consumption of a network system.

Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

Configuration

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a control device 20 according tothe embodiment of the disclosure and a periphery thereof.

In the present embodiment, a control device 20 is provided in a networksystem 1, for example. The control device 20 is a middle-level node(intermediate device) subordinate to an upper-level device 10 that is anupper-level node. Under the control device 20, there are a first device(lower-level device) 30 and a second device (lower-level device) 40 thatare lower nodes. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, one controldevice 20, and one first device 30 and one second device 40 subordinateto the control device 20 are shown. However, the control devices 20 aretypically provided in various parts of the vehicle, and the firstdevices 30 and the second devices 40 subordinate to each control device20 are provided in the vicinity of the control device 20.

The upper-level device 10 is, for example, a relatively advanced ECUthat collectively performs calculations for various vehicle controlfunctions.

The first device 30 and the second device 40 that are lower-leveldevices are, for example, sensors, actuators, or ECUs having relativelyspecialized functions for individually controlling the sensors or theactuators. The first device 30 has a function of switching an operationmode thereof, when receiving a signal instructing the switching of theoperation mode via a communication line, between a normal mode and apower-saving mode in accordance with the signal. In the power-savingmode, functions of the first device 30 are restricted compared to thenormal mode, thereby limiting power consumption. The second device 40does not have the function of switching the operation mode. A devicehaving the function of switching the operation mode, such as the firstdevice 30, is herein referred to as a device of a first type, whereas adevice having no function of switching the operation mode, such as thesecond device 40, is herein referred to as a device of a second type.

The control device 20 serving as an intermediate device is, for example,an ECU that functions as a gateway between the upper-level device 10 andthe first and second devices 30, 40. The control device 20 is connectedto the upper-level device 10 via a communication line 101 and isconnected to the first device 30 subordinate to the control device 20via a communication line 102.

In this example, the upper-level device 10 collects information on thevehicle and its surroundings from the first device 30 and the seconddevice 40 that control sensors, via the control device 20 serving as thegateway. This information may include, for example, operation conditionsof actuators, etc., driving conditions of the vehicle such as a speedand an acceleration of the vehicle, environmental conditions such asroads, objects, etc. surrounding the vehicle, seating statuses ofoccupants, and content of operations performed on various components ofthe vehicle. Note that some switches, sensors, and the like, such as astart switch, may be directly connected to the upper-level device 10.The upper-level device 10 may acquire information from these switches,sensors, and the like without intervention of the control device 20. Theupper-level device 10 performs calculations based on the information togenerate control data. The control data is data for controlling variousfunctions of the vehicle, such as an autonomous driving function, aself-parking function, drive assistance functions including collisionavoidance, lane keeping, follow-up of the preceding vehicle, and speedmaintaining, operational control of an engine, a transmission, a coolingdevice, and air conditioner, charging and discharging control for abattery, lighting of headlamps in accordance with illuminance,permission of unlocking doors based on authentication using a mobiledevice (electronic key), and presentation of information to a user. Theupper-level device 10 transmits the control data to the control device20, and causes the control device 20 to perform operation correspondingto the control data. The upper-level device 10 also transmits thecontrol data to the first device 30 and the second device 40 via thecontrol device 20 serving as the gateway, so that the first device 30and the second device 40 perform operation corresponding to the controldata. The upper-level device 10 also generates scene information, whichwill be described later, as a kind of control data. In the networksystem 1, various control functions for the vehicle are concentrated inthe upper-level device 10 having advanced functions, which makes theconfigurations of the control device 20, the first device 30, and thesecond device 40 relatively simple, and thus reduces an overall cost.

Each of the above devices is typically configured to include acontroller such as a processor or a microcomputer and a memory. However,some lower-level devices may include a sensor or an actuator with nocontroller nor memory.

The upper-level device 10, the control device 20, the first device 30,and the second device 40 are supplied with power from a battery. FIG. 1shows a power line 51 that is a power supply path to the second device40, and power lines serving as power supply paths to the upper-leveldevice 10, the control device 20 and the first device 30 are not shown.The power line 51 is provided with a relay 52, and power supply to thesecond device 40 is controlled by opening and closing the relay 52.Typically, power supply to two or more second devices 40 is allowed tobe controlled through one power line 51 via the same relay 52, inconsideration of cost of parts such as relays and power lines. In thiscase, the two or more second devices 40 belong to the same control groupsimilarly to the related art. The opening and closing of the relay 52 iscontrolled by the control device 20 via a control line 61. The controlsignal to the relay 52 through the control line 61 is controlled by ageneral-purpose semiconductor relay included in the control device 20.Thus, when the relay 52 for the power source, for which characteristicsof the second device 40, such as power consumption etc., needs to betaken into consideration, is provided separately from the control device20, it is possible to achieve more versatile design of the controldevice 20. However, the relay 52 may be provided integrally with thecontrol device 20.

Note that the second device 40 may be connected to the control device 20via a communication line. For example, when the second device 40 is anECU or the like having a communication function and controlled by thecontrol device 20 such that the second device 40 is controlled throughcommunication as well as power supply of the second device 40 iscontrolled using the relay 52, the second device 40 and the controldevice 20 are connected to each other via the communication line.

The control device 20 includes a controller 21 that performs thefunction as the gateway described above. Further, the controller 21particularly includes a specifying unit 22, a power control unit 23, anda mode control unit 24, and controls power consumption described later.The specifying unit 22 specifies a device to be controlled among thesubordinate first and second devices 30, 40 based on informationacquired from the upper-level device 10. The mode control unit 24transmits via the communication line an instruction to switch theoperation mode to the first device 30 (the device of the first type)among the devices specified by the specifying unit 22. The power controlunit 23 controls power supply to the second device 40 (the device of thesecond type) among the devices specified by the specifying unit 22 bycontrolling the relay 52. The connection topology of the network system1 is not particularly limited as long as the control device 20 canperform control described above, and can be appropriately changed.

Processing

Hereinafter, processing of the network system 1 according to the presentembodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 2.

Step S101

The controller 21 of the control device 20 starts processing byacquiring scene information from the upper-level device 10. The sceneinformation is information that allows identification of content ofpower control of the first device 30 and the second device 40. The sceneinformation is generated based on various kinds of information includinginformation on scenes regarding the use of the vehicle, such as contentof operation on various components of the vehicle, operation conditionsof the components, usage of the services, vehicle traveling environment,etc., so as to reflect the scene. The upper-level device 10 can generatethe scene information based on information acquired from the first andsecond devices 30, 40 in operation, sensors, switches, etc. directlyconnected to the upper-level device 10, and a predetermined generationrule. The generation rule is set in advance so that a necessary functioncan be performed depending on the scene and power consumption can beappropriately limited in accordance with functional configurations ofthe first device 30 and the second device 40 and specifications ofvehicle control by the upper-level device 10. For example, by generatingthe scene information based on the usage of the service while thevehicle is parked, suitable power control during parking can beperformed.

Step S102

The specifying unit 22 of the controller 21 in the control device 20specifies a device whose functions may be restricted and powerconsumption is to be limited (also referred to as “limited device”),among the subordinate first and second devices 30, 40, based on thescene information. The specifying unit 22 has, for example, a table thatdefines the limited device in association with content of the sceneinformation, and specifies the limited device based on the table. Thistable can be generated by the upper-level device 10 and received by thecontrol device 20, for example.

Step S103

The controller 21 of the control device 20 sequentially selects one ofthe devices specified in step S102. When the selected device is thefirst device 30 of the first type, the process proceeds to step S104.When the selected device is the second device 40 of the second type, theprocess proceeds to step S105.

Step S104

The mode control unit 24 of the controller 21 in the control device 20transmits via the communication line 102 an instruction to shift theoperation mode to the power-saving mode to the first device 30 selectedin step S103. When receiving the instruction, the first device 30 shiftsthe operation mode to the power-saving mode so that at least somefunctions are stopped to limit power consumption.

Step S105

The power control unit 23 of the controller 21 in the control device 20stops power supply to the second device 40 selected in step S103. Thepower supply is stopped by controlling via the control line 61 the relay52 connected to the power line 51 of the second device 40 to bring therelay 52 into an open state. When the power supply is stopped, thesecond device 40 stops functioning to limit power consumption (ideally,eliminate power consumption).

The processing of steps S103 to S105 is repeated until the processing isperformed on all the devices specified in step S102, and thereafter, theprocess proceeds to subsequent processing.

Step S106

The specifying unit 22 of the controller 21 in the control device 20specifies, among the subordinate first and second devices 30, 40, adevice of which limitation of power consumption is to be removed (alsoreferred to as “non-limited device”) in order to exert the functionsthereof, based on the scene information. The specifying unit 22 has, forexample, a table in which the non-limited device is specified for eachpiece of the scene information, and specifies the non-limited devicebased on the table.

Step S107

The controller 21 of the control device 20 sequentially selects one ofthe devices specified in step S106. When the selected device is thefirst device 30 of the first type, the process proceeds to step S108.When the selected device is the second device 40 of the second type, theprocess proceeds to step S109.

Step S108

The mode control unit 24 of the controller 21 in the control device 20transmits via the communication line 102 an instruction to shift theoperation mode to the normal mode, in which the functions are notparticularly restricted, to the first device 30 selected in step S107.Even in the power-saving mode, a minimum communication function operatesin the first device 30 for standby for the instruction, so the firstdevice 30 can receive the instruction. When receiving the instruction,the first device 30 shifts the operation mode to the normal mode, startsthe stopped functions as needed, and does not limit power consumption ascompared with the power-saving mode.

Step S109

The power control unit 23 of the controller 21 in the control device 20starts power supply to the second device 40 selected in step S107. Thepower supply is started by controlling via the control line 61 the relay52 connected to the power line 51 of the second device 40 to bring therelay 52 into a closed state. When the power supply is started, thesecond device 40 starts the stopped functions as needed.

The processing of steps S107 to S109 is repeated until the processing isperformed on all the devices specified in step S106.

The processing is thus completed, but the order of the steps is notlimited to the above as long as power consumption of each device can belimited and the limitation can be canceled in accordance with the sceneinformation. For example, the upper-level device 10 transmits the sceneinformation to the control device 20 each time the scene informationchanges, and the processing of steps S101 to S109 is performed each timethe control device 20 acquires the scene information. Note that, evenwhen receiving an instruction to shift the operation mode, the firstdevice 30 may not follow the instruction depending on the processingbeing performed at that time, for example. Further, there is apossibility that a failure may occur in opening/closing control of therelay 52. The upper-level device 10 may determine whether the switchingof the operation mode of the first device 30 and the switching of thestate of power supply to the second device 40 have been performed ascontrolled, by acquiring actual states of the first device 30 and therelay 52 through the control device 20, and may reflect thedetermination result in the subsequent control so as to improve accuracyof the control.

Effects

In the control device 20 according to the present embodiment, the firstdevice 30 of the first type, which has the function of switching theoperation mode via communication, uses the function to shift theoperation mode to the power-saving mode, thereby limiting powerconsumption. The control device 20 stops power supply to the seconddevice of the second type, which does not have the function of switchingthe operation mode via communication, thereby limiting powerconsumption. Thus, the control device 20 can realize limitation of powerconsumption corresponding to each of the two types of the devices.Accordingly, using the control device 20, it is possible to weigh meritsand demerits of the first device 30 and the second device 40 so that thenetwork system 1 can be designed with the balance between the limitationof power consumption and the reduction in cost. The first device 30 hasrelatively high cost and uses standby power, but individual control ofpower consumption thereof can be easily performed via communication. Thesecond device 40 has relatively low cost and does not use standby power,but may be controlled on a group basis depending on a limitation to thenumber of relays or power lines. For example, the following design canbe realized. That is, the first device 30 is adopted for some devices,so that unnecessary functions are further restricted to keep the maximumpower consumption equal to or lower than an allowable value. Meanwhile,the second device 40 is adopted for the remaining devices, so that costand power consumption for standby while the function is restricted canbe kept to be equal to or lower than their allowable values.

In the present embodiment, when a device such as an actuator is newlyadded to the network system 1, the new device may be provided as thefirst device 30 of the first type and connected to the communicationline, and no additional relay or wire etc. is required, whichfacilitates the design of the network system 1. In addition, when a newservice is supported after shipment of the vehicle, the upper-leveldevice 10 updates the above-described generation rule to generate sceneinformation corresponding to the new service. This allows the controldevice 20 to perform the power control of the first device 30 and thesecond device 40 corresponding to the new service without changingwiring etc. of the first device 30 and the second device 40. This makesfollow-up of the new service easy.

The disclosure can be construed as not only a control device, but also anetwork system including a control device, a control method performed bya control device having a processor and a memory, a control program, acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a controlprogram, a vehicle equipped with a network system, and the like.Furthermore, the disclosure can be applied to devices other than thein-vehicle control device.

The disclosure is useful for a control system installed in a vehicle orthe like.

What is claimed is:
 1. An in-vehicle control device comprising aprocessor configured to: control (i) a device of a first type, which isconfigured to switch an operation mode between a normal mode and a limitmode in which power consumption is limited compared to the normal modeand (ii) a device of a second type, which is not configured to switchthe operation mode between the normal mode and the limit mode; specify alimited device that is a device of which power consumption is to belimited, based on information acquired from outside; transmit to thelimited device via a communication line an instruction to shift theoperation mode to the limit mode when the limited device is the deviceof the first type configured to switch the operation mode; and stoppower supply to the limited device when the limited device is the deviceof the second type not configured to switch the operation mode.
 2. Thein-vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the informationacquired from the outside is generated based on information includingusage of a service while a vehicle is parked.
 3. The in-vehicle controldevice according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to:specify, when power consumption is being limited to at least one of thedevice of the first type and the device of the second type, anon-limited device that is a device of which limitation of powerconsumption is to be removed based on the information acquired fromoutside; transmit to the non-limited device via the communication linean instruction to shift the operation mode to the normal mode, when thenon-limited device is the device of the first type configured to switchthe operation mode; and supply power to the non-limited device, when thenon-limited device is the device of the second type not configured toswitch the operation mode.
 4. The in-vehicle control device according toclaim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: specify, when powerconsumption is being limited to at least one of the device of the firsttype and the device of the second type, a non-limited device that is adevice of which limitation of power consumption is to be removed basedon the information acquired from the outside; transmit to thenon-limited device via the communication line an instruction to shiftthe operation mode to the normal mode, when the non-limited device isthe device of the first type configured to switch the operation mode;and supply power to the non-limited device, when the non-limited deviceis the device of the second type not configured to switch the operationmode.
 5. The in-vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice of the first type is connected to a power source without a relaycontrolled by the in-vehicle control device, and the device of thesecond type is connected to the power source by a relay controlled bythe in-vehicle control device.